Lock-controlled receptacle and improved fastener therefor



Aug. 18, 1931. H. R. WALRATH 1,819,449

LOCK CONTROLLED RECEPTACLE AND IMPROVED FASTENER THEREFOR Filed June 15, 1928 a 9 INVENTOR. I nmmm Jew WW BY 4 6 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERBERT R. WALRATH, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HOOKLESS FASTENER COMPANY, A CORPORATION PENNSYLVANIA LOCK-CONTROLLED RECEPTACLE AND IMIPROVEID FASTENER THEREFOR Application filed June 15, 1928. Serial No. 285,735.

This invention relates to separable fasteners of the progressively interlocking type controlled by a slider member and more par ticularly to a locking attachment for controlling the slider of such a fastener.

-' The present invention has for an object to provide a pouch or bag having an opening provided with a slider controlled progressively interlocking separable fastener in which the slider is provided with a locking attachment by means of which the slider may be held in bag-closing position to prevent access to the interior of the bag through the opening closed by the fastener.

A further object is to provide a slider of the character specified with a fastenlng element that is independent of the pull for the slider and that is adapted to project through an opening in the bag to receive a lock positioned outside of thebag to secure the slider against movement in a direction to open the bag.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connectionbetween the slide and the fastening element by means of which the fastening element may be quickly and easily attached to the slide.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said to comprise the device as illustrated in the accompanying drawings hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims, together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents a bag having its open- 40 ing closed by means of a progressively interlocking fastener and showing the fastener controlling slider locked in bag closing position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of one corner of the bag with one wall of the bag removed to show the slider in bag closing position and the locking element attached to the slider in lock receiving position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the slider and the attached locking element.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the locking element prior to its attachment to the slider.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the bag to which the present invention is applied is designated by the numeral 1 and this bag has an opening at its upper end that is adapted to be closed by a progressively interlocking fastener which consists of a series of closely spaced fastening elements 2 secured along the edge of the flaps at opposite sides of the opening and projecting inwardly from the flaps. The fastening elements are controlled by a slider 3 which, when moved in one direction, causes the fastener elements to be progressively interlocked and which, when moved in the opposite direction, causes the fastener elements to be progressively disengaged. The slider has an outer wall or wing portion 4 and an inner wall or wing portion 5 that are connected by a cam portion 7 which supports the inner and outer walls in proper spaced relation. The wall portions 4 and 5 have edge flanges 6 which overlie the outer ends of the fasteners to guide the same into and out of interlocking engagement.

A suitable handle or pull 8 is pivotally attached to the outer wall of the slider and, by means of this pull, the slide may be moved from one end of the opening to the other, thereby progressively interlocking the fastening elements while moving in one direction and progressively disengaging the fastening elements while moving in the op posite direction as well understood in the art.

The present invention resides in the pro vision of improved means that is independent of the pull for locking the slide in bagclosing position to prevent access to the interior of the bag through the slide controlled opening, without such tampering with the bag as would leave evidence that the bag had been opened.

In order to provide a strong connection between the slider and the locking element that is attached to its inner side, the inner wall of the slide is provided with an integral eye 9 that is preferably formed by making parallel cuts 10 in the wall of the slider and pressing the portion of the wall between said cuts outwardly to form the eye 9, the eye being in the form of an unbroken strap integral at its ends with the body of the wall. The fastening member 11 is in the form of a fiat plate having a flat edge or base portion adapted to rest against the face of the inner wall, the base portion of the member 11 having an extension or prong 12 adapted to be inserted through the eye 9 and having a slot 13 above the extension 12 in which the eye 9 fits. After the extension 12 is passed through the eye 9, the end of the extension 12 is bent upwardly across the outer end of the slot 13 and over a shoulder 14 formed on the fastening member outwardly of the slot 13.

The fastening member 11 also has a forwardly projecting portion 15 which is provided with an opening 16. This projecting portion is adapted to extend through an opening in the wall of the bag at the end of the fastener controlled opening at which the slider is positioned when the slider is in bag-closing position, the opening in the bag being reinforced by a metal plate 17 having an opening or window for receiving the projecting portion 15 of the locking member. The metal plate 17 is attached to the bag by a suitable means such as integral prongs 18. When the locking member is projected through the opening in the plate 17, the opening 16 in the projecting portion 15 of the fastening member is adapted to receive the shackle 19 of a suitable padlock 20.

The locking device of the present invention is particularly useful in connection with pouches or bags used for carrying money or securities or other papers from one bank to another or for analogous service, and the locking arrangement serves to prevent a messenger from obtaining access to the interior of the bag between the time the bag is delivered to him at one bank and the time which he delivers the bag to the other bank, without leaving evidence that the bag has been opened.

It will be apparent that the present invention also provides a very simple and inexpensive locking attachment for the controlling slide of a progressively interlocking fastener and that the locking device of the present invention is very effective for the purpose for which it is intended.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular form of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented for purp oses of explanation and illustration and that various modflexible material and having an elongated opening and a continuous fastener composed of closely spaced interlockingelements secured along the edges of the flaps at opposite sides of the opening, a slide mounted for movement along the edges of the flaps and engaging said elements to progressively move the same into or out of interlocking engagement, said bag having a reinforced opening adjacent an end of said elongated opening, and a fastening member secured to the said slide on the inner side of said bag, said fastening member having a portion adapted to project through said reinforced opening and to receive a locking element exteriorly of the bag.

2. In combination with a bag formed of flexible material and having an elongated opening and a continuous fastener composed of closely spaced interlocking elements secured along the edges of the flaps at opposite sides of the opening, a slide mounted for movement along the edges of the flaps and engaging said elements to progressively move the same into or cut of interlocking engagement, a metal plate secured to the bag adjacent one end of the elongated opening, said plate having an opening and a fastening member rigidly secured to the inner side of said slide, said fastening member having an apertured projecting portion adapted to extend through the opening of the plate to receive a suitable locking element exteriorly of the bag.

3. In a device of the character described, a slide having an integral eye formed by a portion of one wall thereof pressed outwardly from the body of the wall and a fastening member having a slot to receive said eye, a prong extending through said eye and bent up into engagement with a portion of the fastening member outwardly of the slot.

4. In a device of the character described, a slide having an integral eye formed by a portion of one wall thereof pressed outwardly from the body of the wall, and a fastening member in the form of a flat plate having one edge adapted to lie flat against the face of said wall, and a slot to receive said eye, said member having a prong between said edge and slot and projecting beyond said slot, said prong extending through the eye and being bent up over the end of the slot against the edge of the fastening member outwardly of the slot.

5. In combination with a receptacle having an opening to be closed, a slide fastener for closing said opening comprising interlocking elements secured along the edges of said opening, a slider mounted for movement along the edges of said opening and engaging said elements to progressively move the same into and out of interlocking engagement, and a fastening member rigidly HERBERT R. WALRATI-I. 

